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Danielle; Model, Athlete, Scholar

Danielle: â€œWithout limiting myself, I want to focus on fitness modeling and any work that promotes health and self-awareness.â€?

[Model Of The Day]

Where She’s From: Danielle Yvette McMillian was born and raised in the inner-city in Nashville, Tennessee. “My family has taught me that you can make it through anything if you just decide to keep moving,” the lovely model, athlete, Stanford graduate and Berkeley law student tells The Black Star News.

Her mother was a public school teacher and her father an auto-mechanic. She attended Meigs Magnet Middle School and Hume-Fogg Magnet High School. “Along with launching my modeling career, I recently began my first year of law school at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Currently, my interest is this regard is immigration law, contracts—I plan to negotiate my own contracts someday, and real estate property law.”

“I am an avid runner and athlete,” she responds, when asked about her aspirations. “Without limiting myself, I want to focus on fitness modeling and any work that promotes health and self-awareness. I strongly believe that people can take responsibility for their personal health, rather than dangerously allowing commercial industries, the health care industry included, decide for them.”

Where She’s At: “I want to work with clients and companies that will help them do so. I see both my modeling career and legal endeavors spanning across a lifetime as I evolve and explore different interests,” Danielle says. “I envision working with local, national, and international top brands that promote healthy body images as well as creativity; for example Nike, Lululemon, Puma to name a few,” she continues.

“A at the age of 15, during my second year of high school I abruptly left home to live with my aunt. My decision to leave that night steered my life away from uncertainty and fear and reset me on a path for success and a better life,” Danielle says, when asked how she’s dealt with past challenges. “I am so grateful for my aunt and my dearest friends who supported me in that decision, both physically with a roof over my head and emotionally.” She eventually won an academic scholarship to Stanford and her hard work landed her at one of the nation’s renowned law programs.

“Brainpower and beauty are a double threat, because sadly, the stereotype is that a girl either has one or the other, but not both. So, where beauty may open doors of opportunity, brainpower lets you create your own doors and fling them wide open,” Danielle tells The Black Star. “I would also add elegance and grace to the mix because then you'll look good doing it.”

So, how does this learned beauty with a great career ahead of her, prepare to step out?

“I have sensitive skin and prefer all natural cosmetic products that utilize natural oils and plant extracts,” she says. “My favorites are Burt's Bee's, Queen Helen, KissMyFace, Jojoba oil and any pure vitamin E oil or cream. For make-up, Max Factor and Queen Latifah's Queen Collection with CoverGirl. I have been a runner since I could walk, so I live in athletic gear. My favorites are Lululemon Athletica and Nike. For street wear, I like being comfortable, stylish and economical, so The Gap, L.E.I., Mossimo and Isaac Mizrahi—the latter two currently available at Target, are among my favorites right now.”

Danielle’s Words Of Wisdom: “You're the only one who knows what you need in order to be happy, so don't fall into a habit of letting others decide for you, but still be willing to listen to good advice.”Danielle’s Secrets Of Success: “Utter your wishes and the universe will answer you; keep your head out of the sand, and be relentless in your practice of self-awareness.”Danielle’s Three Favorite Movies: “The Shawshank Redemption, The Lion King, and Malcolm X.” Danielle’s Three Favorite Books: “Notes From the Hyena's Belly, Nervous Conditions, and any Betty Crocker cook book.” Three Leaders That Have Most Inspired Danielle: “Frederick Douglas and W.E.B. Dubois even though they had different approaches. Oprah Winfrey whom I consider a Black leader because of her public visibility and impact on both the Black community,” and beyond, she says.The First Three Things Danielle Would Do As President: “Revamp my cabinet and appoint Oprah Winfrey as my Secretary of State. Make a real plan to leave Iraq and focus on securing America's borders at home not by putting up a ridiculous wall but rather modeling our customs, airport and border security after the leading European nations who have been dealing with terrorism and radicalism for decades. With all this amazing technology, there is no excuse to lag this far behind. America just hasn't been paying attention and was lulled into a false sense of security way before 9/11.” At the end of the day when Danielle looks back at life one day, a sentence that describes her accomplishments: “Veni, vidi, vici—and then I celebrated.”Danielle’s Favorite Cars: “Mustangs because I love muscle cars and the Classic Corvettes because their elegant curves and sporty quality mirror feminine beauty and power.”Danielle’s Five Favorite Entertainers And Their Songs: “Stevie Wonder-everything; Jonny Lang-the entire Long Time Coming album; Lauryn Hill-the entire Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album; Billie Holiday-everything and especially Strange Fruit; and, Patty Griffin- entire Living With Ghosts album.”Danielle’s Five Favorite websites: “Facebook, CNN.com, Goolge.com, ModelMayhem.com, and WashingtonPost.com.”

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